My Sportin' Life

Though I can't show you the years of my life That I spend on the road to freedom Don't let it throw you, I know of your strife I know what it's like to roam I sang 'em a glad song, played 'em a sad song Sang 'em the whole night long Just for a dollar or what they could offer To somebody's ramblin' boy When the fun was done, I would pack my bags and I was gone Though the women were kind there was nothing to bind me to one 'Til somebody changed my rough and rowdy ways Somebody changed my ole carousing days Oh when I was a young boy I learned to survive 'Til somebody came and stayed my sportin' life I lived in the barrooms the juke joints and gin mills I worked any dive in town Never to proud to pass my hat around In every place I found I'll sing you a glad song, play you a sad song Sing 'em the whole night long Just for a dollar or what you can offer To somebody's ramblin' boy There were times when lonely was the only feeling left in me Or when the cold and the rain made it hard on a man to be free 'Till somebody changed my tough and hungry days Somebody changed my rough and rowdy ways Now I don't really care no more 'bout nickels and a dime The one I love is all I need to help me spend my time Somebody came and rolled away my stone Somebody came, and she made me feel at home Somebody changed my rough and rowdy ways Somebody changed my ole carousing days Oh when I was young boy I learned to stay alive 'Til somebody came and stayed my sportin' life I'll sing you a glad song, play you a sad song Sing 'em the whole night long Just for a dollar or what you can offer To somebody's ramblin' boy